The Italian legend of MV Augusta is notorious for its exotic appeal. Their motorbikes are nothing short of phenomenal and if you are lucky enough to own one, then you might just know what an adrenalin junkie’s slice of heaven feels like. Their flawless design philosophy – matched with their finesse in engineering ingenuity – makes MV Augusta extra special.

Fated with a turbulent history of ups and downs, there was however one bike from the Augusta stable that steered the company back to the top class of motorcycle makers. The F4 was that bike and what you see in the pictures is the all new 2012 F4 RR. With a price tag of almost $33,000, you can be damn sure that this new mean machine is a lot more than just metal on wheels.

The new F4 RR claims to be the most powerful and advanced bike on the planet. It does share the same brute looks as the current F4 but its heart has been transplanted with a brand new ultra short-stroke engine capable of pumping out 200bhp. This new 4-cylinder engine is inspired by MV Agusta’s experience in competition. It has been completely redesigned with a single goal in mind – maximum performance. The RR features a new crankshaft that has a reduced value of inertia and new bore and stroke dimensions with an extremely over-square relationship that help it reach revolutions worthy of a true racing motorcycle.



The new engine features a rapidly removable cassette gearbox and the clutch employs a mechanical slipper system to assure proper control even under the most extreme braking conditions. And for the first time on an MV mass production engine, all the valves are made of titanium which makes it possible to reduce the mass while at the same time significantly increasing the diameter of the inlet and the exhaust. The electronic engine management has been further refined and the traction control follows new operating modes as well as two maps for the engine, that is easily managed through the new controls that have been placed on the left handlebar.

To optimize performance and adapt the F4 RR for any track condition, the bike allows a vast combination of adjustments. Multi-adjustable suspension, essential for a racing motorcycle, has been combined with the adjustable steering head angle with interchangeable eccentrics, and the height of the swingarm pivot and rear axle by means of calibrated inserts. Known for its legendary stability the F4 RR features an Öhlins upside-down front fork that has a 43 mm diameter inner tube and a titanium nitride coating to improve the smoothness and precision while the rear emplys Öhlins Racing TTX 36 shocks that are fully adjustable to suit the rider’s demands.

Braking power comes in the form of Brembo monobloc calipers, which are state of the art high performance brake calipers for motorcycles, and now, paired with Brembo radial master cylinders, the braking performance is on par with that of the top superbikes. Basically, the F4 RR is a production motorcycle that can compete with the very best of Moto GP prepped bikes. The technology used in this machine is phenomenal and it has taken the company countless number of hours to finally come out with such a radical approach.

Every detail has been given attention and even the quest for lighter weight and the best possible handling led to the creation of lightweight forged aluminum wheels that minimize un-sprung weight and reduced inertia with the advantage in the increased reactivity of the bike. And if a customer chooses he can deck out the F4 RR with MV special parts. These parts have been subject to the same high standards of quality that have been applied to the original masterpiece using the most advanced materials such as aerospace alloy, titanium and carbon fiber. Special exhausts systems and racing engine ECU’s have also been developed that can increase even further the record power level of the 4 cylinder engine. The possibilities are limitless.

The bike is already available in the European market and rumor has it that the project was first started after an ardent rider requested the MV Augusta engineers for a bike which could supply his demand for the ultimate riding experience. Now if this F4 RR does not suffice that craving, the only thing we can think of that would satisfy his desire for speed and thrill would be a rocket. Good luck finding one that is legally allowed on city streets.